Iraqi commander: Rival Kurdish forces enter town

Iraq's top military spokesman is accusing rival Kurdish forces of sending reinforcements into two disputed northern areas of the country amid heightened tensions between the Baghdad central government and the Kurdish autonomous region Today`s Zaman reported.

Col. Dhia al-Wakeel says Kurdish forces, backed by rocket launchers and artillery, reinforced troops already in the cities of Khaniqeen and Kirkuk on Thursday. Al-Wakeel said some were in civilian clothes. He would not elaborate further.